Aaron Hernandez pleads not guilty to murder, weapons charges

Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and five gun-related charges in Fall River Superior Court on Friday afternoon.

Hernandez will continue to be held without bail, although his attorneys reserved the right to request bail at a later date. His next court appearance will be Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.

Hernandez previously pleaded not guilty to all charges in district court back in June.

On June 26, the day he was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the murder of acquaintance and former semi-pro linebacker Odin Lloyd, the Patriots cut Hernandez and terminated his contract. In late August, a grand jury indicted Hernandez for the murder, moving the case toward a trial. Hernandez is being held without bond in the Bristol County jail after pleading not guilty to the murder and multiple weapons chargers.

Hernandez is accused of killing Lloyd on June 17 and dumping the body in a lot less than a mile from his North Attleboro home. A jogger found his body the next day and Hernandez almost immediately became a person of interest and then a suspect in the death.

Hernandez signed a five-year, $40 million contract extension in 2012. That extension included standard bonuses for offseason workouts. He earned $82,000 in bonus money for attending offseason activities with the Patriots from April to June while recovering from shoulder surgery. Those bonuses had not been paid when Hernandez was arrested and his contract terminated.

Hernandez’s contract with the Patriots included $12.5 million guaranteed. Of that guaranteed money, $9.5 million has already been paid. The Patriots voided future guarantees on the contact, even though $1.137 million of his $2.5 million salary for 2013 became guaranteed on March 17.

Hernandez’s contract also included $3.25 million in deferred signing bonus to be paid in March 2014, money Hernandez and his representatives could claim he’s also owed.